Liquid-supply-cowtbolliito apparatus



Aug. 19 1924., 1,505,292

` J. A. SERRELL LIQUID SUPPLY CONTROLLING APPARATUS Filled July 18. 1923 2 Sheets shet l INVENTOR Aug. 19 192%., 1,505,292

J. A. SERRELL LIQUID SUPPLY CCNTROLLING APPARATUS Filed July 18. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l -f \\.v- `W/////////////////.

To' aYZZ rwhom t may concern.'

Patented Aug. 19, 1924.

TED S'TTES l gaat@ JOHN A. SERRELL, :or: NORTH rLeiuriririn'ionouoii, NEW Jansma LIQUID-sorrisi/iooiirnonririvo arreaerus.

'Application 'mea Juiy is, i923.' semi No. 652,292. y

Controlling Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My inventioiirelates to apparatus for controlling the supply of liquids and more particularly to liquid metering and mixing apparatus.

One object is'to limit the possible supply of liquidton measuring or mixing apparatus to the amount which 'such apparatus can properly accommodate.

Another object is to maintain a relatively uniform iiow of liquid through the metering ormixing'apparatus even under conditions of irregular supply to or demand from such apparatus. e

Another object is to provide a liquid mixing system in which the vliquids are accuiately proportionedby weight rather than by volume so that changes in temperature have no effect on thepro'portioning of the liquids. y y This application is in part a continuation and in` partv a divisionl of my co-pending application Serial No. 318,605 Aiile'd August In" itsmost complete form my invention employs a'- primary receiver for one liquid, a` storagereceiver into which' liquid is al-l lowed to flow from the primaryy receiver and, in' case mixing is' desired, a secondaryy receiver to hold the' liquid to be mixed. 1V here the 'demand for liquid "from the "storage receiver is not uniform I provide an automatic valve between the primary re- .ceiver and the storage receiver to regulate the iiow from the former" to` the latter so as to maintain an approximately constant .quantity of liquid in the Vstorage receiver.

In cases of sudden large demand on the storage receiver', however, the automatic regulating valve might open so wide as to kpermit aV greater fiow'than could be eflicieiitly measured by the meter between the 4auton'iatic valve and the storage receiver, or the iiow might be so great as to exceed the capacityof the mixer for the secondary liquid. I therefore provide a static head 'trap between the primary and` storage receiver to positively limit the rate of iiow of liquid therebetween. While such'a head k.trap isuseful in 'connection with any type oi: liquid flow meter, consider the coinbination of my' static head trap with ra meter comprising a tl-notch weir box and scaleinechanisin for weighing and recording liquid momentarily in the weir `box particularly desirable. This head trap met-er combination works very well with a secondary `liquid supplying means which may be accurately andy automatically con-y trolled in` response tothe weight of liquid vvpassing through the weir box.

Fig. l isa diagrammatic side elevation of aL complete system for carrying out my invention. f

Fig. 2 kis alongitudinal vertical section of a recording meter with a valve for automatically vcontrolling the introduction of a secondaryliquid into the storage receiver.

F ig. 3 isa vertical section showing an automatic valve 'for controlling the liow from the kprimary receiver to the storage receiver and one form oi'` static head trap for limitirigy such iiow, the measuring 'parts being omitted for clearness. Y

vFig. 4 is a transverse sectional View of thefs'torage receiver, weir box and part of the indicating and recording mechanism of the metering parts, and

f Fig. 5 shows a. iiiodiiiedstatic head trap.

A primary receiver 6' is supplied with liquid which might be condenser wateror any other liquidA and which may vary in 'height within the receiver within wide limits. 7 designates a'storage receiver or tank to which 'liquid inwthe primaryhre- "ceiver flows through pipe 8, valve 9,trap

pivotedat 16. "Theweir box is provided atene end with a face plate 17 containing vpreferably a V-*notch as shown in Fig. 4.

Primary liquid is admitted to the weiribox from pipe 11`by'a distributing head 23 .which quells the downward.momentum of the incoming liquid, the baiiie" plate 23 extending transversely across the bottom oic lio the Weir boxto diminish the velocityofthe y,

rin'flowing liquid. 1f desired a suitable valve proportions by my apparatus.

may be inserted in pipe 11 as shown in Fig. 1.

'A counterweight 18 is adjustably mounted on lever 15 so that an indicator 19 may be set for zero reading when there is no flow through the notch in the weir box. A spring connects lever 15 to a fixed point so that vertical'movement of the weir box will be proportional to the weight 0f liquid in the weir bo'x above the Zero line at the bottom of the notch. In addition to the indicator 19 which records the flow at any moment'in any desired unit, a permanent record may he made by a stylus 21 on a card carried by a suitable rotating drum 22, the movement ofA the stylus being controlled by movement of lever 15 in any desired manner, for example as shown in Fig. 1 or in F ig. 2.

The metering mechanism just described when employing a weir box having a deli nite V-notch will accurately measure the flow of liquid therethrough only within certain definite limits. For example, if the flow is so great as to overflow the weir box over the edge as well as through the V-notch no accurate record will be made. To prevent such overiiow and for other reasons which will appear later I provide between the automatic valve 9 and the weir box a static head trap which limits the head of liquid which can flow through pipe 11 and distributing pipe 23 into the weir box. In the modification shown in Fig. 3 this trap consists of t-he casing 10 containing a valve 241 mounted on a pivoted lever 25 actuated by a float 26. ,Obviously when the water level rises to a certain point valve 24: will cut off the flow from primary receiver and the head of liquid at that time will not cause flow in excess of that which can be safely discharged through the V-notch of the weir box. To provide several variable normal flows I may substitute end plates 17 having notches Of different sizes and may then adjust the head trap by sliding a weightk 27 along the pivoted lever which is linked to valve lever 25, so that a wide range of flow adjustment is possible with my device.

The static head trap is also very desirable where two liquids are to be mixed in definite In Fig. 1 I have shown apparatus intended to be used where a source of secondary liquid under pressure is not readily available. The secondary liquid is supplied from a secondary tank or receiver 28. I have shown a centrifugal pump 29 driven by an electric motor 30 to pump liquid through pipe 31 into the storage receiver at a rate controlled by the speed of the motor. I may however employ other types of pumps and different sources of power to 'drive them as occasion demands. Preferably I control the speed of the electric or other motor in accordance with the flow of primary liquid through the weir box. This may be accomplished by using a rheostat or throttling device having an operating arm 32 linked to lever 15 in such a way that movement of the lever caused by increase flow of the primary liquid will speed up the motor and viceversa. Obviously the number of contacts on the rheostat may be varied accordinL to the nicety of adjustment desired. hatever motor is employed, however, will have a maximum speed which limits the maximum ratev of pumping secondary liquid into the storage receiver. For this reason they static head trap 10 is very desirable since it prevents too great flow of primary liquid vthrough the weir box and thus keeps the range of movement 0f lever'15 and its linkage including rheostat arm 32 within limitsy which motor 30 and pump 29 are designed to accomodate.

l/Vhen a source of secondary liquid which can. be fed by gravity is available I may employ somewhat simpler apparatus such as shown in Fig. 2 to control its admission to the storage receiver. For example, a graduating valve 33 may control an inlet 31 'coming from the gravity feed secondary receiver, the valve 33 being directly linked to lever 15 so that increased flow. of primary liquid through the weir box automatically and proportionally increases the flow through inlet 31. I-Iere again the static head trap is important, since without it the flow through the weir box might exceed an amount necessary t0 fully open valve 33 in which case insufficient secondaryliquid would be supplied to maintain' the predey termined proportion.

In Fig. 5 I have shown a modification which may be substituted for the head trap shown in Fig. 3 and in which the valve 241 is actuated by a flexible diaphragm 34 instead of by a float. As shown, upon a decrease in the head of liquid Within the trap', a weight 35 will raise mushroom 36,l diaphragm 34 and valve rod 37 to open valve 24 and restore the proper head. The normal working head may be determined by the position of weight 35. A vent 38 maintains atmospheric pressure within the static head tra-p in the same manner that vent 39 in trap 10 does so. In either case the vapor vent in t-he head trap may be connected as by a pipe 4:0 to a similar vent erin the storage receiver 7, or pipe 40 may be omitted and all the vents open to the atmosphere.

It should be noted that when my invention is used to mix two or more liquids, the head in the secondary liquid storage re ceivers should be kept as ynearly constant as practicable when such liquid is to be fed b v gravity or by a centrifugal pump. or else a displacement pump should be' used.

I claim: f f 1.l Liquid supply controlling: `apparatus comprising the combination of' a'iprimary receiver, a storage receiver, anrautomatic valve, meanscontrolled by thelevel of liquid Y linrsaid stoiage receiver Ltoroperating y'said valve, a meterdelivering into said ystorage f receiverand a static head trapfinterposed between said valve and saidimeter.

2.` In a system'oi the character described,

primary receiver, a storage2receiver,1 a f valve, means automatically controlled byy they level of liquid in ysaid storageureceiver :for operating said valve', a `static head device interposed between said valve and said storage receiver for delivering kthe liquid there- I to at a limited maximum head, and*` means for equalizing the pressure in the static head device and in the storage receiver.-

4. Liquid supply controlling apparatus comprising the combination or' a primary receiver, a storage receiver, an automatic valve, means controlled by the level of liquid in said storage receiver for operating said valve, a meter delivering into said storage receiver, a static head trap interposed between said valve and said meter and an equalizing pipe connecting the air spaces in the static head device and in the storage receiver.

5. In a system of the character described, a primary receiver, a storage receiver, a static head device interposed between said primary receiver and said storage receiver, an automatic valve controlling the flow of liquid to said static head device and means for controlling the flow of liquid from the static head device to said storage receiver.

6. In a system of the character described, a primary receiver, a static head device receiving its liquid from said receiver, a meter receiving its liquid from the static head device and means interposed between the static head device and said meter for controlling the iow of liquid.

7. In a liquid meter, a Weir box, means for continuously weighing the liquid liowing therethrough and means automatically operable by said weighing means for controlling tlie introduction of a secondary liquid in proportion to the weight of liquid passing through the weir box.

8. In a liquid meter, a suspended weir box, a scale mechanism for weighing the liquid passing therethrough and means operable thereby for controlling the introducf-tionof asecondary'liquid in proportion to thev weight of liquid kpassing through 'the weir box. l f f f,

9.k In aliquid lsupplysysteiri,ay primary receiver, ajfstorage receiver, meter` for' measuring thefliquidpassing into said storage receiver, v'a static head `device receiving :its liquid from said storage receiver forcontrolling the flow`ofliqiii'd 'from/the primary receiver to'thev meter fand means operated bythe meten-for controlling the introduction of af'secondaryliqiiidl i w10.' -In aliquid supplysystem,a primary receiver, a storage :receiverconnected'to said primary l receiver, means for' continuouslyy `weighing' theliquidtlowing into said storage receiver fromthe primary receiverand automatic means yfor controlling the lintroduction s of a -isecondary liquid y'into i said storage receiver in proportion tothe 'weight of `liquid flowing throuighsaid meter.

11.` In afliquid'y supplysystem, a primary receiver, a storage'receiver, means yfor continuously weighing the liquid flowing into said kstorage receiver yfrom the primary re-'51rv ceiver and automatic meansfor controlling HJche introduction of ay'secondaryr liquid into said storage receiver in proportionl to the weight oi' liquid flowing through said meter, said means including a pump whose delivery is automatically controlled by said meter.

12. Liquid supply controlling 'apparatus comprising a source of liquid, a storage receiver and a static head trap between said source and said receiver, said trap comprising a chamber having a bottom wall, an iiilet valve, and means operable in response to changes in the head of liquid acting on said bottom wall for actuating said valve.

13. Liquid supply controlling apparatus comprising a source of liquid, a storage receiver and a static head trap between said f the top and an ou-tlet port near the bottom,

an `inlet valve and an outlet valve to convtrol said ports, and means operable in re-v sponse to changes in the `head of liquid in the chamber for actuating said inlet valve to tend to maintain said head at a predetermined value, saidl means being adjustable to vary the predetermined value of said head.

14. Liquid supply controlling apparatus comprising a source of liquid, a storage receiver and a static head trap between said source and said receiver, said trap comprising a chamber having an inlet port near the top and an outlet port near the bottom, an inlet valve and an outlet valve to control said ports,and means operable in response to changes rin the head of liquid in the chamber for actuating said inlet valve to tend to maintain said head at a predetermined value, said outlet valve being adjustable to vary the normal rate of liquid flow from said chamber to said storage receiver.

15. Liquid supply controlling 'apparatus ber for actuating said inlet valve to tend to maintain said head at a predetermined value, said means being adjustable to vary the predetermined value of said head, and said outlet valve being adjustable whereby the flow may be regulated within wide limits by adjusting one or more of said adjustable parts.

16. Liquid supply controlling apparatus comprising a source of liquid, a storage receiver and a static head trap between said source and said receiver, said trap kcomprising a chamber having a bottom wall, an inlet valve, and linkage including a pivoted lever having a slidable weight to variably operate said valve according to the head of liquid in the chamber and the position of the weight on the lever.

17. Liquid supply controlling apparatus comprising a source of liquid, a storage receiver and a static head trap between said source and said. receiver, said trap compris- `ing a chamber having a flexible diaphragm below the normal water level, an inlet valve mounted for operation by movement of the diaphragm, and means including a pivoted ,below the normal Water level, an inlet Valve mounted for o-peration by movement of they diaphragm, and means including a pivoted lever to regulate movement of the diaphragm, and means for applying a variable force to said lever to adjust the normal tension of the diaphragm.

JOHN A. SERRELL. 

